Filling apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a filling apparatus for filling containers ( 12   a - d ) with liquid and/or pasty materials, in particular for a packing machine ( 14   a;    14   d ), having a metering apparatus ( 26   a - d ) having at least one metering pump ( 16   a - d ) having at least one metering stroke chamber ( 18   a - d ) having a stroke volume ( 24   a - d ) that can be varied by a metering piston ( 20   a - d ) in a piston stroke. According to the invention an overall stroke chamber ( 28   a - d ) of the metering apparatus ( 26   a - d ), comprising all metering stroke chambers ( 18   a - d ), corresponds at least to a multiple of a filling volume to be discharged to at least one container ( 12   a - d ) in one metering operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A filling apparatus for filling containers with liquid and/or pastymaterials, for a packaging machine, comprising a metering apparatushaving at least one metering pump comprising at least one metering sweptvolume with a capacity that is changeable by a metering piston in onepiston stroke has already been proposed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention proceeds from a filling apparatus for filling containerswith liquid and/or pasty materials, in particular for a packagingmachine, comprising a metering apparatus having at least one meteringpump comprising at least one metering swept volume with a capacity thatis changeable by a metering piston in one piston stroke.

It is proposed that an overall swept volume of the metering apparatuscomprising all metering swept volumes corresponds to at least a multipleof a fill volume to be dispensed to at least one container in a meteringprocess. In this context, a “container” should be understood to mean, inparticular, a packaging container such as a tin, a tub, a flask or avial, but preferably a pouch such as, in particular, a three edge sealedpouch, such as e.g. a tube pouch or stick pack, or a four edge sealedpouch, such as e.g. a sachet. In this context, a “metering pump” shouldbe understood to mean, in particular, a piston pump which is provided todispense an adjustable amount of a substance. In this context, a“metering swept volume” should be understood to mean, in particular, thepart of a space of the metering pump that is modifiable by the pistonstroke, which is restricted by the metering piston and which is providedfor receiving and/or dispensing the substance to be filled. In thiscontext, a “capacity” should be understood to mean, in particular, thevolume of the metering swept volume at the current piston stroke of themetering piston. The metering apparatus can comprise one or moremetering pumps. The metering apparatus can be provided to fill onecontainer or a plurality of containers simultaneously within the scopeof a metering process. In this context, an “overall swept volume” shouldbe understood to mean the sum of all metering swept volumes of themetering apparatus. Preferably, the metering swept volume of eachmetering pump of the metering apparatus corresponds to at least amultiple of a fill volume to be dispensed to at least one containerwithin a metering process. Preferably, the metering apparatus dispensesa partial volume of the overall swept volume during each meteringprocess for the purposes of filling the at least one container to befilled within this metering process. Preferably, each of the meteringpumps dispenses a partial volume of the respective metering swept volumeduring each metering process for the purposes of filling the at leastone container to be filled within this metering process. In thiscontext, “a fill volume to be dispensed to a container” should beunderstood to mean, in particular, an intended fill volume of thesubstance, with which the container should be filled. The meteringapparatus of the filling apparatus can preferably effectuate a pluralityof metering processes in succession using the overall swept volume. Asuction process, which is provided to fill the overall swept volume withthe substance to be metered, can be dispensed with between meteringprocesses which are effectuated using one filling of the overall sweptvolume. Once the overall swept volume has been depleted, a suctionprocess can be carried out before the next metering process and theoverall swept volume can be filled. If the metering apparatus comprisesa multiplicity of metering pumps, these can be filled simultaneouslyduring the suction process. It may likewise be possible for the suctionprocess of the individual metering pumps to be effectuated at deviatingtimes. Metering processes can be effectuated in a particularly fastsequence. A time window between two metering processes, which isrequired for a suction process, can be dispensed with in the case ofsuccessive metering processes which are effectuated with one filling ofthe overall swept volume. A suction process can be effectuated afterrespectively two, preferably after respectively three, particularlypreferably after respectively four or more metering processes.Particularly many metering processes can be effectuated in a timeinterval. In particular, >50, preferably >80, particularlypreferably >100 metering actions can be carried out each minute. Themetering apparatus can be particularly efficient.

Further, a filling unit that is connected to an outlet cross section ofthe metering apparatus and comprises a filling valve is proposed, saidfilling valve being provided to selectively open or close off a fillingcross section of the filling unit. In this context, an “outlet crosssection” should be understood, in particular, to be a cross sectionthrough which the substance to be metered leaves the metering apparatus.In this context, a filling unit should be understood to mean, inparticular, an apparatus which is provided to fill the substance to bemetered into a container. In particular, the filling unit may comprise alancet and/or a cannula, which is preferably partly inserted into afilling opening of the container to be filled. Preferably, the fillingcross section can be arranged at one end of the lancet and/or cannulaand it can preferably be closed by valve cone of the filling valve thatis preferably embodied as a needle valve. A dead space in which thesubstance to be filled can collect in an uncontrolled manner afterpassing through the filling cross section and/or from which thesubstance to be filled can continue to drip and which follows thefilling valve can be avoided. Closing the filling valve between twometering processes renders it possible to prevent dripping and/orafterflow and/or the formation of a thread of the substance to befilled, in particular, between two metering processes. Alternatively,there may be a return stroke of the metering piston or the meteringpistons of the metering apparatus, at least between successive meteringprocesses without a suction process lying therebetween. A control unitmay be provided for actuating the return stroke. In this context, a“return stroke” should be understood to mean a movement of the meteringpiston or the metering pistons which brings about an increase in thecapacity. Preferably, the return stroke is less than 25%, particularlypreferably less than 10%, of a filling volume of a metering process. Thesubstance to be filled can be drawn back from the filling cross sectionand/or from a filling opening in the filling unit. Dripping or theformation of a thread of the substance to be filled can be preventedbetween two metering processes.

In an extended variant of the invention, a plurality of filling unitsthat are connected to at least one outlet cross section of the meteringapparatus and provided for simultaneously filling a multiplicity ofcontainers are proposed. A number of containers that can be filledwithin a time period can be increased. The metering apparatus cancomprise a metering pump, the outlet cross section of which is connectedto a plurality of filling units. Preferably, the metering apparatus cancomprise a plurality of metering pumps, particularly preferably onemetering pump per filling unit. Preferably, one filling unit isconnected to each outlet cross section of the metering apparatus. Ametering accuracy of the filling apparatus may be increased.

Preferably, the metering apparatus comprises at least one changeovervalve which is provided to selectively connect the at least one meteringswept volume with at least one inlet cross section or at least oneoutlet cross section. One changeover valve can be provided for aplurality of metering pumps. Preferably, each metering pump has achangeover valve. Preferably, the switchover valve is embodied as arotary valve. The changeover valve can be integrated particularly easilyinto the metering swept volume of a metering pump.

It is proposed that the filling apparatus comprises a control unit whichis provided to actuate a sequence of work cycles with, in each case, asuction process for filling the capacity and, in each case, amultiplicity of metering processes following the suction process.Preferably, the control unit is embodied, at least in part, as anelectric and/or electronic control unit. In particular, the control unitis able to set the number of admissible metering processes after asuction process, depending on a ratio of the overall swept volume to thefill volume to be dispensed within a metering process.

Further, a packaging machine for packaging liquid and/or pastysubstances, in particular a pouch machine, comprising at least onefilling apparatus according to the invention is proposed. The packagingmachine may be provided for filling bottles, vials, cups, tins and/orsimilar containers. Preferably, the packaging machine is provided forproducing and filling tube pouches or stick packs or sachets, such ase.g. three edge and/or four edge sealed pouches. In this context, a“tube pouch” should be understood to mean a pouch which is formed from afilm web by forming a film tube by folding about a longitudinal axis andsealing a longitudinal seam, which is subsequently closed off and cutsection by section in each case by transverse seals. In this context, a“stick pack” should be understood to mean, in particular, a tube pouchthat has been elongated in the direction of its longitudinal axis. Inthis context, a “sachet” should be understood to mean, in particular, apouch which is formed by placing two film webs on one another andsubsequently applying four sealing seams along four edges, or a pouchwhich is formed by folding a film web along one edge and subsequentlyapplying at least three sealing seams along at least three edges. Suchtube pouches, stick packs and sachets are known to a person skilled inthe art.

Preferably, the packaging machine comprises a control unit which isprovided to slow down a container advance, at least during a suctionprocess that follows a metering process. In this context, a “containeradvance” should be understood to mean, in particular, a rate at whichthe container to be filled is transported in a filling region of thefilling apparatus. The container advance may be effectuated in a clockedmanner, i.e. containers are transported into the filling region,stopped, filled, and transported onward after the filling within thescope of the discontinuous operation. Preferably, the container advancecan have a continuous embodiment. In this context, a “continuouscontainer advance” should be understood to mean, in particular, that thecontainer is transported to the filling region, moved further during thefilling and transported away after the filling in a continuous movement.It may be possible for the movement to be slowed down intermittently, inparticular during the filling, with changes in speed preferably beingeffectuated in a continuous manner. In particular, the container advancein the case of a pouch machine can be formed by a film advance speed, bymeans of which one or more material webs are transported in an advancedirection along the filling region. In this context, slowing down of thecontainer advance “during a suction process that follows a meteringprocess” should be understood to mean, in particular, that a clock timeof the discontinuous container advance is lengthened or an advance speedof a continuous container advance is reduced, at least following ametering process that is followed by a suction process. A period of timebetween two metering processes that has been lengthened in relation todirectly successive metering processes by the suction process canadvantageously be compensated. The containers can respectively be readyin the filling region at a metering time. The container advance can beoperated at a higher speed in the case of directly following meteringprocesses than in the case of metering processes with a subsequentsuction process. The performance of the packaging machine may beincreased.

It is proposed that the control unit of the packaging machine isprovided to initiate a start of a metering process depending on aclosing-off process of at least one container base of the respective atleast one container to be filled in the metering process. In thiscontext, a “closing-off process” of a container base should beunderstood to mean, in particular, a process in which a lower end of thecontainer in the direction of the gravitational force is closed in sucha way that no more substance filled therein emerges through thecontainer base. In particular, the closing-off process may consist of atransverse sealing seam being applied to a film tube in order to form acontainer. The container base may be closed as soon as the transversesealing seam is pressed together by the transverse sealing jaws of thepackaging machine. Advantageously, it is not necessary, in particular,to wait until the completion of the sealing process. Preferably, themetering process is started immediately after closing the containerbase. Particularly preferably, the metering process is started after ashort time interval after closing the container base. The time intervalis preferably selected in such a way that by the time at which fillingmaterial reaches the region of the container base, the latter is closed.The metering process can be started particularly early. The period oftime between filling a container and filling the next container can bereduced further. The performance of the packaging machine can beincreased further.

Preferably, the control unit of the packaging machine is provided toadapt at least one metering piston speed to a container advance speed,at least during at least one metering process and/or a plurality ofmetering processes. In this context, “metering piston speed” should beunderstood to mean, in particular, a speed at which the at least onemetering piston of the metering apparatus is moved during the meteringin order to reduce the capacity. Preferably, the metering piston speedcan be synchronized to the container advance speed and/or beproportional to the container advance speed. The filling process canadvantageously be adapted to the container advance speed, for example afilm speed. In particular, the metering piston speed can be slowed downwhen the container advance speed is slowed down. Likewise, the containeradvance speed can be slowed down if there is a reduction in the meteringpiston speed. In particular, the control unit of the packaging machinemay be provided to set a metering piston speed that is as low aspossible. In particular, the control unit can set the metering pistonspeed dependent on a filling volume and/or dependent on the containeradvance speed. Cavitation effects, which may arise on account of highflow speeds of the substance to be filled, can be reduced. The meteringapparatus is able to use a time window for filling that exists dependingon the container advance speed particularly well. Preferably, thepackaging machine and/or the control unit comprises measuring devicesfor capturing the metering piston speed and/or the container advancespeed. The control unit can advantageously match the container advancespeed and/or the metering piston speed in a control loop with the aid ofthe measured values. Alternatively, the control unit can control thecontainer advance speed and/or the metering piston speed. In this case,a movement in the advance direction and/or a movement of the at leastone metering piston is advantageously driven with the aid of step motorssuch that a defined control of the speeds is possible.

Further, a method for filling at least one container with a fillingapparatus, is proposed, in which a plurality of metering processes forfilling at least one container follow at least one suction process of ametering apparatus.

The filling apparatus according to the invention and/or the packagingmachine according to the invention should not, in this case, berestricted to the above-described application and embodiment. Inparticular, in order to fulfill a functionality described herein, thefilling apparatus according to the invention and/or the packagingmachine according to the invention can comprise a number of individualelements, components and units that deviates from the number specifiedherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawing.The drawing presents four exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedrawing, the description, and the claims contain numerous features incombination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also considerthe features on their own and combine these to form further meaningfulcombinations.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a section of a packagingmachine comprising filling apparatuses according to the invention,

FIGS. 2.I through 2.V show a schematic illustration of a work cycle witha suction process and two metering processes following the suctionprocess,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a metering pump of one of thefilling apparatuses from FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a filling apparatus in a secondexemplary embodiment,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a filling apparatus in a thirdexemplary embodiment, and

FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a packaging machine comprisingfilling apparatuses according to the invention in a fourth exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a section of a packagingmachine 14 a with filling apparatuses 10 a according to the inventionfor filling containers 12 a with liquid and/or pasty substances,respectively comprising a metering apparatus 26 a having a metering pump16 a comprising a respective metering swept volume 18 a with a capacity24 a that is changeable by a metering piston 20 a in one piston stroke.The packaging machine 14 a has a multi-web embodiment, i.e. a pluralityof webs of containers 12 a are filled next to one another in a widthdirection that is perpendicular to the imaged plane of the drawing inFIG. 1, with each web having one of the filling apparatuses 10 a. FIG. 1presents one of these webs with a filling apparatus 10 a. An overallswept volume 28 a of a metering apparatus 26 a in each case correspondsto a multiple of a fill volume to be dispensed to a container 12 a in ametering process. In the shown example, in which each metering apparatus26 a has a metering pump 16 a, the overall swept volume 28 a correspondsto the respective metering swept volume 18 a of the respective meteringpump 16 a. In the shown example, the overall swept volume 28 a of ametering apparatus 26 a is more than twice as large as the fill volumeto be dispensed to a container 12 a in a metering process in each case,and so two doses can be provided in each case before the capacities 24 aof the metering pumps 16 a are filled again in a suction process.Further, the metering apparatuses 26 a each have a filling unit 34 awith a filling valve 36 a, which alternatively opens or closes off afilling cross section 38 a of the filling unit 34 a. The filling valves36 a are respectively embodied as needle valves having a valve cone,which is not depicted in any more detail here and which opens or closesthe filling cross sections 38 a that are respectively arranged at endsof metering tubes 62 a. Valve needles of the filling valves 36 a thatare embodied as needle valves are driven by a valve drive 30 a in eachcase. The filling valves 36 a therefore open and close the filling crosssections 38 a directly at the location of the emergence of the substanceto be filed from the filling unit 34 a into the container 12 a to befilled. The metering pumps 16 a of the metering apparatuses 26 amoreover respectively comprise a changeover valve 40 a (FIG. 3), whichis provided to selectively connect the metering swept volume 18 a withan inlet cross section 42 a or an outlet cross section 32 a. Thechangeover valve 40 a is embodied as a rotary valve and driven by avalve drive 84 a.

The packaging machine 14 a is embodied as a sachet machine, forproducing containers 12 a embodied as four edge sealed pouches in thisexample. Two material webs 56 a, which are only indicated here, aredeflected around sealing rollers 66 a of a longitudinal sealing unit 64a in the direction of gravity and transported downward in an advancedirection 58 a. The longitudinal sealing unit 64 a connects the twomaterial webs 56 a with two longitudinal sealing seams that are parallelto the advance direction 58 a and are spaced apart by a pouch width inthe width direction of the packaging machine 14 a, said longitudinalsealing seams restricting a container volume of the respective container12 a. To this end, the packaging machine 14 a has a plurality of sealingrollers 66 in the width direction, said sealing rollers 66, respectivelyin pairs, being spaced apart by a pouch width and being drivensynchronously.

The continuous, i.e. ongoing, movement in the advance direction 58 aforms a continuous container advance 48 a of the packaging machine 14 a.In the region of the longitudinal sealing unit 64 a, the metering tube62 a, with the filling cross section 38 a thereof, extends between thematerial webs 56 a that form the respective container 12 a. A transversesealing unit 68 a is situated below the longitudinal sealing unit 64 ain the advance direction 58 a. The transverse sealing unit 68 acomprises two transverse sealing jaws 70 a that lie opposite one anotherin respect of the material webs 56 a and, in a direction perpendicularto the advance direction 58 a, are mounted in a manner drivable in thedirection of the material webs 56 a. If the transverse sealing jaws 70 aare pressed against the material webs 56 a, a transverse sealing seam 72a is formed under the action of pressure and heat, said transversesealing seam forming a container base 50 a of the respective container12 a. The transverse sealing unit 68 a is mounted in a movable mannerin, and counter to, the advance direction 58 a and synchronously movedwith the container 12 a in the advance direction 58 a during thesealing, and it is moved back into an initial position between thesealing processes in a movement counter to the advance direction 58 a.As a result, it is possible to avoid a relative speed of the transversesealing jaws 70 a in relation to the container 12 a in the advancedirection 58 a and the container advance 48 a can be continuous.Situated below the transverse sealing unit 68 a in the advance direction58 a, there is a separating unit 74 a with two rotating transverseblades 76 a, which cut the individual containers 12 a that, up untilthis point, form a continuous container chain. Alternatively, it mayalso be possible for the transverse blades 76 a only to produceperforation lines, at which the containers 12 a can easily be separatedfrom the container chain by ripping when necessary.

The filling apparatuses 10 a, the longitudinal sealing units 64 a andthe transverse sealing units 68 a of the packaging machine 14 a aredriven synchronously. The filling apparatuses 10 a each have a reservoir78 a, which is connected via tubing to the inlet cross section 42 a ofthe respective metering pump 16 a. The metering pumps 16 a each comprisea pump drive 80 a, which moves the metering piston 20 a of the meteringpump 16 a. From the outlet cross section 32 a of the respective meteringpump 16 a, further tubing leads to the respective metering tube 62 awith the filling cross section 32 a of the respective filling unit 34 a.The filling units 34 a are mounted in a displaceable manner in, andcounter to, the displacement direction 58 a by way of the drive unit 82a. This allows a position of the filling units 34 a in relation to thesize of the containers 12 a to be filled to be set in an ideal fashionin the advance direction 58 a. It may likewise be possible for thefilling units 34 a to be driven during the metering process in theadvance direction 58 a by way of the drive unit 82 a. In particular,this can ease the filling of the containers if these are not moving awayfrom the filling unit in the advance direction during the filling, as isthe case in the shown example.

The packaging machine 14 a has a control unit 46 a, which is provided toslow down the container advance 48 a during a suction process thatfollows a metering process. In the shown example, the control unit 46 aof the packaging machine 14 a likewise comprises control units 44 a ofthe filling apparatuses 10 a. Deviating from this, it is also possiblefor the control units 44 a, 46 a to have a separate embodiment. Thecontrol units 44 a are provided to actuate a sequence of work cycles ofthe filling apparatuses 10 a with, in each case, a suction process forfilling the overall swept volume 28 a and, in each case, a plurality ofmetering processes that follow the suction process. The control unit 46a is provided to initiate a start of a metering process depending on aclosing process of the container bases 50 a of the containers 12 arespectively to be filled in the metering process.

The control of the packaging machine 14 a and of the filling apparatuses10 a by way of the control unit 46 a during a work cycle is presented inFIG. 2:

FIG. 2.I plots the capacity 24 a that is set by the piston strokebetween the values of “0” (minimum capacity 24 a) and “1” (maximumcapacity 24 a) along the time axis t. FIG. 2.II plots the position ofthe changeover valve 40 a between the positions of “E” (connectionbetween the metering swept volume 18 a and the inlet cross section 42 a)and “A” (connection between the metering swept volume 18 a and theoutlet cross section 32 a) over the time axis t. FIG. 2.III plots theposition of the filling valve 36 a between the positions of “O” (open)and “G” (closed) over the time axis t. FIG. 2.IV plots a containeradvance speed 54 a between the values of “S” (fast) and “R” (reduced)over the time axis t. FIG. 2.V plots the position of the transversesealing jaws 70 a of the transverse sealing unit 68 a between thepositions of “O” (open) and “G” (closed) over the time axis t.

Initially, the changeover valve 40 a is put into the position “E” (inletcross section 42 a) (FIG. 2.II).

At a time t₁, at which the changeover valve 40 a reaches the position“E”, the suction process starts by virtue of the metering piston 20 abeing moved in a suction direction at a metering piston speed 52 a whichis selected in such a way that the capacity 24 a increases (FIG. 2.I).At the same time, the container advance speed 54 a is reduced to thevalue “R”.

At a time t₂, at which the capacity 24 a reaches the value “1” and theoverall swept volume 28 a, or the metering swept volume 18 a, is filledcompletely, or alternatively with a set intended amount, the movement ofthe metering piston 20 a is stopped, the container advance speed 54 astarts to accelerate toward the value “S”, and the changeover valve 40 ais moved in the direction of the position “A” (outlet cross section 32a).

The first metering process starts at a time t₃. At this time, thefilling valve 36 a is in the position “O” (FIG. 2.III) and thetransverse sealing unit 68 a is in the position “G” such that thecontainer base 50 a of the container 12 a to be filled is closed, andthe metering piston 20 a is moved in a discharge direction with themetering piston speed 52 a, said discharge direction being selected insuch a way that the capacity 24 a reduces. The movement of the fillingvalve 36 a into the position “O” and the movement of the transversesealing unit 68 a into the position “G” already starts at a time t₃₋,just before the time t₃, in this case. The lead time with which thesemovements are started depends on a changeover time which is required tomove the filling valve 36 a from the position “A” into the position “E”and to move the transverse sealing unit 68 a from the position “O” intothe position “G”.

At the time t₄, at which the fill volume to be dispensed to thecontainer 12 a has been reached, the movement of the metering piston 20a is stopped and the filling valve 36 a is closed in the position “G”.As an alternative to closing the filling valve 36 a, there may also be areturn stroke of the metering piston 20 a in order to prevent drippingof the substance to be filled into the containers. Here, closing thefilling valve 36 a is already started with a lead time before the timet₄, said lead time depending on the changeover time of the filling valve36 a. At the time t₄, the transverse sealing unit 68 a is already in theposition “O” (open) again. The period of time during which thetransverse sealing unit 68 a remains in the position “G” between thetime t₃ and the time t₄ depends on a sealing time which is required toform the transverse sealing seam 72 a.

A further metering process, which corresponds to the metering process atthe time t₃, is carried out at the time t₅. The period of time afterwhich the further metering process is started after the completion ofthe preceding metering process depends on the period of time which isrequired to bring, with the container advance speed 54 a, the nextcontainer 12 a into a position in which the metering process can bestarted.

The further metering process is completed at a time t₆.

After a short period of time that depends on the container advance speed54 a, a suction cycle of the next work cycle starts at a time t₁′.

The control unit 46 a is further provided to adapt the metering pistonspeed 52 a to the container advance speed 54 a during the meteringprocesses. By way of example, if the container advance speed 54 a isreduced by an external intervention during the metering process, themetering piston speed 52 a is likewise reduced in a correspondinglyproportional manner. Likewise, the container advance speed 54 a isreduced if the metering piston speed 52 a is reduced during the meteringprocess. Advantageously, the packaging machine 14 a may have anadjustable machine speed, with which a user, or else an upstream and/ordownstream process, can set the number of containers 12 a that should befilled within a time interval. A change in this machine speed bringsabout a change in the container advance speed 54 a and hence in themetering piston speed 52 a. Moreover, the metering piston speed 52 a isset by the control unit 46 a in such a way that a time window forfilling the respective container 12 a can be used as completely aspossible, said time window being set with the container advance speed 54a. In particular, this avoids unnecessarily high metering piston speeds52 a. In order to regulate the container advance speed 54 a and themetering piston speed 52 a, the control unit 46 a comprises measuringdevices for measuring the container advance speed 54 a and the meteringpiston speed 52 a.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show three further exemplary embodiments of the invention.The following description and the drawing are substantially restrictedto the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein, inprinciple, reference can also be made to the drawing and/or thedescription of the other exemplary embodiments, in particular of FIGS. 1to 3, in respect of components with identical designation, in particularin respect of components with the same reference sign. In order todifferentiate between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a followsthe reference sign of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3. In theexemplary embodiments of FIGS. 4 to 6, the letter a has been replaced bythe letters b to d.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a filling apparatus 10 b in asecond exemplary embodiment. The filling apparatus 10 b differs from thefilling apparatus 10 a by virtue of, in particular, a metering apparatus26 b comprising two metering pumps 16 b and two filling units 34 b forfilling a container 12 b. An overall swept volume 28 b of the fillingapparatus 10 b is the sum of metering swept volumes 18 b of the meteringpumps 16 b. The metering pistons 20 b of the metering pumps 16 b, thechangeover valves 40 b of the metering apparatus 26 b, and fillingvalves 36 b of the filling units 34 b that are arranged at the fillingcross sections 38 b are respectively actuated in a synchronized manner.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a filling apparatus 10 c in athird exemplary embodiment. The filling apparatus 10 c differs from thefilling apparatus 10 a by virtue of, in particular, a metering apparatus26 c having a metering pump 16 c with an overall swept volume 28 c and achangeover valve 40 c and two filling units 34 c with filling crosssections 38 c that are connected to an outlet cross section 32 c of themetering apparatus 26 c of the filling apparatus 10 c, for the purposesof simultaneously filling two containers 12 c. The filling apparatus 10c can be particularly cost-effective since only a small number ofmetering pumps 16 c are required.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a packaging machine 14 dcomprising four filling apparatuses 10 d according to the invention forfilling containers 12 d with liquid and/or pasty materials, eachcomprising a metering apparatus 26 d in a fourth exemplary embodimenthaving a metering pump 16 d with respectively one metering swept volume18 d that forms an overall swept volume 28 d with a capacity 24 d thatis changeable by a metering piston 20 d in one piston stroke, and achangeover valve 40 d. The packaging machine 14 d differs from thepackaging machine 14 a in that, in particular, it is embodied as afour-web tube pouch machine, for producing containers 12 d embodied asso-called “stick packs” in this example. A material web 56 d that isonly indicated here is deflected into the direction of gravity,transported downward in an advance direction 58 d and cut in the advancedirection 58 d by three separating blades that are not presented in anymore detail here, such that the material web 56 d forms four partialwebs of equal width, which are each supplied to one of the fillingapparatuses 10 d. A movement in the advance direction 58 d forms acontainer advance 48 d of the packaging machine 14 d. A film tube 60 dis formed in each case from each partial web of the material web 56 d.To this end, the respective partial web of the material web 56 d isfolded about a forming shoulder that is not presented here in any moredetail and about a metering tube 62 d of the respective filling unit 34d. A longitudinal sealing unit 64 d seals the two material plies, whichare lying on one another as a result of folding the partial web of thematerial web 56 d, under the application of pressure and heat in orderto form the film tube 60 d. A transverse sealing unit 68 d is situatedbelow the longitudinal sealing unit 64 d in the advance direction 58 d.During a sealing process, the transverse sealing unit 68 d respectivelyforms a transverse sealing seam 72 d, which forms a container base 50 dof the respective container 12 d. The container advance 48 d has aclocked embodiment, i.e. the movement in the advance direction 58 d isbriefly stopped in each case during the application of the transversesealing seam 72 d. Here, the transverse sealing unit 68 d simultaneouslyforms a transverse sealing seam 72 d that forms the container base 50 dof the respective container 12 d to be filled, and a further transversesealing seam that seals the following container 12 d in the advancedirection 58 d. The transverse sealing unit 68 d comprises transverseblades that are not depicted in any more detail here and cause thecontainers 12 d respectively following in the advance direction 58 d tobe separated from the film tube 60 d when the transverse sealing seams72 d are formed. The further functions of the packaging machine 14 d andof the filling apparatus 10 d correspond to those of the packagingmachine 14 a and the filling apparatus 10 a of the first exemplaryembodiment.

1. A filling apparatus for filling containers (12 a-d) with liquidand/or pasty materials, comprising a metering apparatus (26 a-d) havingat least one metering pump (16 a-d) with at least one metering sweptvolume (18 a-d) with a capacity (24 a-d) that is changeable by ametering piston (20 a-d) in one piston stroke, characterized in that anoverall swept volume (28 a-d) of the metering apparatus (26 a-d)comprising all metering swept volumes (18 a-d) corresponds to at least amultiple of a fill volume to be dispensed to at least one container (12a-d) in a metering process.
 2. The filling apparatus as claimed in claim1, further comprising at least one filling unit (34 a-d) that isconnected to an outlet cross section (32 a; 32 c) of the meteringapparatus (26 a-d) and comprises a filling valve (36 a; 36 b), which isconfigured to selectively open or close off a filling cross section (38a-c) of the filling unit (34 a-d).
 3. The filling apparatus as claimedin claim 1, further comprising a plurality of filling units (34 c) thatare connected to at least one outlet cross section (32 c) of themetering apparatus (36) and that are configured for simultaneouslyfilling a multiplicity of containers (12 c).
 4. The filling apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in that the metering apparatus (26a-d) comprises at least one changeover valve (40 a-d) which isconfigured to selectively connect the at least one metering swept volume(18 a-d) with at least one inlet cross section (42 a) or at least oneoutlet cross section (32 a; 32 c).
 5. The filling apparatus as claimedin claim 1, further comprising a control unit (44 a) which is configuredto actuate a sequence of work cycles with, in each case, a suctionprocess for filling the overall swept volume (28 a-d) and, in each case,a multiplicity of metering processes following the suction process.
 6. Apackaging machine for packaging liquid and/or pasty substances,comprising at least one filling apparatus (10 a-d) as claimed inclaim
 1. 7. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 6, furthercomprising a control unit (46 a) which is configured to slow down acontainer advance (48 a; 48 d), at least during a suction process thatfollows a metering process.
 8. The packaging machine at least as claimedin claim 6, further comprising a control unit (46 a) is configured toinitiate a start of a metering process depending on a closing-offprocess of at least one container base (50 a; 50 d) of the respective atleast one container (12 a-d) to be filled in the metering process. 9.The packaging machine at least as claimed in claim 6, further comprisinga control unit (46 a) configured to adapt at least one metering pistonspeed (52 a) to a container advance speed (54 a), at least during atleast one metering process and/or a plurality of metering processes. 10.A method for filling at least one container (12 a-d) with a fillingapparatus (10 a-d) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that aplurality of metering processes for filling at least one container (12a-d) follow at least one suction process of a metering apparatus (26a-d).